Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Hello,

To whom it may concern,

I am writing this application for a CR request on my transcript for my final grade in BCHM 411 in the Winter 2023 semester, which was a C-. I was going through significant extenuating circumstances this term which have impacted my academic studies and personal wellbeing, which I will outline in brief below:

My father, who was in remission for advanced (metastatic) melanoma, underwent two brain surgeries in the past six months (one in October and the second in January this year). I found out over Christmas break that the immunotherapy he was on was no longer working, and the cancer had metastasized and reappeared in his brain. This understandably adversely impacted my stress and my ability to focus on my academics early on in the term. After a surgery in January, my father also experienced severe side effects through February and March and he has now moved onto alternative drugs which thankfully seem to work, at least for the time being (Dabrafenib and Trametinib).

In addition to the above, I experienced significant personal distress this semester as I came out as transgender to both my family and friends at Queen??s. Naturally, this process was the source of a significant amount of stress and anxiety in my life and has impaired my ability to focus on my academics. This was made worse by the fact that I am clinically diagnosed with moderate attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (inattentive type) and struggle somewhat with organization and motivation ordinarily, let alone while under duress. For this reason, I am registered with QSAS.

By my count, I have been to student wellness services over 25 times this semester for appointments for counselling, hormone replacement therapy, and occupational therapy. I have received a significant amount of support from my occupational therapist Tess Sheperd throughout the term, and from no less than 3 different counsellors through student wellness services.

Kindly find attached 2 letters of support for my CR request, written by Deb Bruce (my QSAS advisor) and Tess Shepherd (my occupational therapist). My primary letter is from Deb Bruce, and my supporting letter is from Tess Shepherd.

Despite my father??s ongoing medical issues and my personal struggles this term, I am happy to be graduating from Queen??s and have shared fond memories of this semester with friends I met through Queen??s diversity initiatives such as the Yellow House and am generally in a better place now.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thank you for your time,
Hugh Hall-Jones